Tensions continue to escalate in Rivers State as key political leaders dismiss the ultimatum issued by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the state House of Assembly, which demands that Governor Siminalayi Fubara present the 2025 state budget. The leaders insist that complying with the directive would be a political trap designed to facilitate the governor’s impeachment.
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has strongly opposed any attempts to undermine Fubara, warning that such actions could have dire consequences for national peace and economic stability. The INC also condemned the recent Supreme Court ruling on Rivers State, cautioning that it could trigger widespread instability in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.
Following the voiding of the 2024 local government elections, the Rivers State government is preparing to conduct fresh council elections. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has scheduled a stakeholders’ meeting to unveil the election timetable and guidelines.
Meanwhile, the state government awaits the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment before making an official response to all the issues raised in the ruling. In a related development, local government chairmen, who were removed from office in 2015, have vowed to reclaim leadership positions in the 23 local government areas of the state.
Reacting to the ultimatum from the Amaewhule-led Assembly, APC chieftain Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze warned that Governor Fubara must not fall into what he described as an impeachment trap. He advised the governor to ignore the Assembly’s directive, arguing that its members lacked the authority to dictate terms to an elected governor.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to The Netherlands, Ambassador Oji Ngofa, echoed these sentiments, stating that the 48-hour ultimatum demonstrated a lack of genuine intent for peace. According to Ngofa, the approach taken by the Assembly is combative and undermines stability in the state.
On the other hand, APC’s South-South National Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, refrained from commenting on the matter but indicated that the party was closely monitoring developments. Similarly, Rivers State APC Publicity Secretary Chief Chibike Ikenga emphasized that the directive to present the budget was based on the Supreme Court’s ruling and should be respected.
INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba criticized the Supreme Court judgment, asserting that it failed to acknowledge the political contributions of the Ijaw people in Rivers State. He warned that any move to truncate Governor Fubara’s tenure could lead to unrest in the Niger Delta. Okaba reiterated that the Ijaw people had made significant sacrifices in shaping the state’s governance and would not allow their first riverine governor in decades to be removed unjustly. He further cautioned President Bola Tinubu against dismissing the crisis as routine politics, hinting at potential disruptions in the oil sector if the situation escalates.
Amid the crisis, RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli announced plans to conduct a fresh local government election. He invited stakeholders, including political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies, and civil society groups,
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